Class 4 impact-resistant shingles
for Colorado Springs.
Call them hail-resistant, hail-rated, impact-rated, or IR shingles — Class 4 is the top of the UL 2218 impact-resistance scale (a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 ft, no back-mat cracking). Real-hail performance varies with stone shape, wind, and roof age. Many Colorado carriers offer an impact-resistant roof discount on the wind/hail portion of your premium — amounts vary by carrier and policy. If you live along the Palmer Divide, it's often the smartest roof you can buy.
Rated to take the hit.
Class 4 is the top rating in the UL 2218 impact test: a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet must leave no crack on the back of the shingle. It's the standard your insurance company recognizes — and the only one that qualifies for an impact-resistance discount.
Colorado Springs sits in one of the most hail-prone corridors in the country. A standard shingle bruises and loses granules in a moderate storm; a Class 4 shingle is built with a polymer-modified (SBS "rubberized") asphalt mat that flexes instead of cracking. Independent testing by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) confirms the best Class 4 products dramatically outperform standard shingles in real hail — you can see the full IBHS impact-resistance scorecard before you choose.
At a glance
The discount that pays for the upgrade.
Class 4 typically costs more up front than a standard architectural shingle. Many Colorado carriers offer an impact-resistant discount on the wind/hail portion of your premium after a Class 4 install, because IR-roofed homes file fewer hail claims. On many Colorado Springs homes that discount can recover the upgrade cost within a few years — but the size of the discount, and whether it's offered at all on your policy, varies by carrier. Ask your agent for your policy's specifics.
Under C.R.S. § 10-4-110.8, insurers writing homeowner policies in Colorado must factor impact-resistant roofing into their rates. We provide the UL 2218 Class 4 certification and documentation your carrier needs to consider the discount, and we know what each of the big Colorado insurers requires to apply it. Whether the discount is ultimately applied and at what amount is your insurer's decision.
Colorado law also protects you here: under state roofing consumer-protection rules, your contractor can't waive or "eat" your deductible, and you have the right to a roof that meets current code. We document everything to code and to your carrier's impact-resistance requirements so the discount actually sticks. Questions about your rights? The Colorado Division of Insurance is the state authority.
IR shingles, impact-rated, Class 3 vs Class 4
You'll see these called impact-resistant shingles, impact-rated shingles, or just IR shingles — all the same category. What matters is the UL 2218 class:
Class 3 IR shingles pass a 1.75″ steel-ball impact test — some carriers give a partial IR discount.
Class 4 IR shingles pass a 2″ ball — the top UL 2218 rating, and the one that typically qualifies for the full IR discount when a carrier offers one.
For hail country we almost always recommend Class 4: the extra protection and the bigger, permanent discount are worth the small upgrade over Class 3.
State Farm, USAA, Allstate & more
Most major carriers along the Front Range offer an impact-resistant roof discount — including State Farm, USAA, Allstate, American Family, Farmers, and Nationwide. The exact percentage and the paperwork each requires vary.
We provide the manufacturer's UL 2218 Class 4 certification plus the photo documentation your carrier needs to apply the discount — and we know what each of the big Colorado insurers looks for, so you actually get it applied.
Tip: ask your agent to confirm the impact-resistant (IR) discount is on your policy after your Class 4 reroof — it isn't always automatic.
The proven Class 4 lines.
We're certified with the major manufacturers, so you get both our workmanship warranty and the manufacturer's material warranty. The four Class 4 lines we install most on the Front Range:
GAF Timberline AS II
GAF's standard-profile Class 4, with LayerLock and the "Armor Shield" SBS-modified mat. As a GAF-certified installer we can register the enhanced system warranty. Grand Sequoia AS is the wood-shake-look Class 4 option.
Owens Corning Duration STORM
SureNail strip plus a Class 4 SBS mat. As an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, we can register the Owens Corning Platinum Protection warranty, which includes a one-time transferability provision under OC's terms (registration required at install; see OC's warranty PDF for the full terms).
Atlas StormMaster Shake & Slate
Atlas's Class 4 line — engineered for the worst hail, with a 150 mph wind rating and Scotchgard™ Protector against algae streaking. As a certified Atlas contractor we install the full StormMaster line with the enhanced warranty.
Malarkey Vista
Built on Malarkey's NEX polymer-modified asphalt — genuinely rubberized, with strong real-world hail performance and FORTIFIED-qualifying options. A favorite for the worst hail corridors.
CertainTeed Landmark IR
The Class 4 version of the popular Landmark line, with the ClimateFlex SBS formulation for cold-weather flexibility — well suited to Colorado's freeze-thaw swings.
Class 4 FAQ
Do Class 4 shingles lower my insurance in Colorado?
Many Colorado carriers offer an impact-resistant roof discount on the wind/hail portion of your homeowner's premium after installing a UL 2218 Class 4 roof, under C.R.S. § 10-4-110.8. Amounts and eligibility vary by carrier and policy. Confirm what your specific policy qualifies for with your agent.
What does UL 2218 Class 4 mean?
It's the steel-ball impact test. Class 4 is the highest rating: the shingle must survive a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet with no cracking on the back mat. It's the rating insurers recognize for the discount.
Which Class 4 shingle is best for Colorado hail?
GAF Timberline AS II, Owens Corning Duration STORM, Malarkey Vista, and CertainTeed Landmark IR are the proven lines here. The best pick depends on color, warranty tier, and budget — we walk you through it on a free inspection.
Are Class 4 shingles worth it in Colorado Springs?
For most homes along the Palmer Divide hail corridor — Falcon, Monument, Black Forest, Briargate — yes. Longer-lived roof, fewer future claims, and an ongoing insurance discount. IBHS hail testing confirms Class 4 dramatically outperforms standard shingles.
What's the difference between Class 3 and Class 4 shingles?
Both are UL 2218 impact-resistance ratings. Class 3 passes a 1.75″ steel-ball test; Class 4 passes a 2″ ball — the top rating. Some carriers offer a partial IR discount for Class 3; the full IR discount typically requires Class 4. Discount amount depends on carrier and policy. The upgrade cost from Class 3 to Class 4 is small and often pays back within a few years when a discount is offered.
Are "hail-proof" shingles real?
No shingle is truly hail-proof — the honest term is hail-resistant. Class 4 is the most hail-resistant asphalt shingle made, rated for 2″ hail. Want more? Stone-coated steel and standing-seam metal carry the same Class 4 rating and last twice as long.
Get a Class 4 quote.
Free inspection, honest recommendation, and we'll help you claim the insurance discount.